Posted on 02/17/2002 3:39:23 PM PST by Nubbin
GALVESTON -- A Texas City man convicted of shooting his girlfriend because he thought she was about to say "New Jersey" has been sentenced to six years in prison.
Thomas Ray Mitchell, 54, has a history of mental problems, including becoming enraged at hearing certain words, including "New Jersey," "Wisconsin," "Snickers" and "Mars."
After deliberating for more than five hours, a jury of 10 women and two men agreed Thursday night on Mitchell's sentence. The jury had convicted him Wednesday of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon in the March 1999 shooting of Barbara Jenkins.
Galveston County prosecutor Mo Ibrahim said he had sought the maximum 20-year sentence.
Ibrahim said that, although Mitchell had no felony record, he posed a continuing threat to society because he refused to believe he had mental problems and did not take medicines that help him function normally.
"A psychiatrist testified that, unfortunately, there is no place for Mr. Mitchell in our community," Ibrahim said Friday. "He would be released from a psychiatric institution, he would not take his medication, he would not go to follow-up visits and these violent episodes will manifest themselves."
Defense attorney Maria Luisa Mercado argued that Texas City police knew Mitchell had mental problems but questioned him anyway. She said Mitchell's mental problems made it unlikely that he understood his right to refuse to make statements to police and have his car searched.
Mitchell's relatives testified that his mental problems began about 1985 after he served two enlistments in the Air Force.
Mitchell shot Jenkins with a .38-caliber pistol in the chest and wrist at an apartment complex where they lived separately. She recovered but died recently of causes unrelated to the shooting.
This guy's tv viewing must be something to behold.
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New Jersey? I don't get it. Niagara Falls isn't in New Jersey.
(Sorry, but someone had to say it!)
No kidding. I wonder if it's just the names of certain places and candy bars he has a problem with. I get pretty ticked sometimes when I come home from work and hear hubby say "what's for dinner?" but I usually manage to keep him in line with "the look" and not have to resort to violence.
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Anything to do with a new boyfriend?
What did the great state of Wisconsin ever do to this guy.
What a complete psycho.
How many points is that sentence worth? Are the points redeemable for prizes?
He's lactose-intolerant.
My first thought too.
Will work on it. Once read a story about a woman who thought "cellar" and "door" were the two most beautiful words in the English language so she named her daughter "Cellardoor". No word on if she survived once the daughter realized what her name was. Surely it's worth a citizen's arrest of the mother.
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